Crime in Harold Wood: statistics, rates and trends
903 crimes were recorded in Harold Wood in the 12 months to August 2026, 64.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Harold Wood at a glance
- Crime trends in Harold Wood
- Types of crime in Harold Wood
- Harold Wood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Harold Wood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Harold Wood
- Demographics of Harold Wood
- Questions about crime in Harold Wood
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (243), anti-social behaviour (192) and vehicle crime (106) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,473rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Harold Wood | Havering | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 903 | 24,310 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 64.1 | 88.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -18% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 14,090 | 276,274 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Harold Wood of any year here (903 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 13%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 903 | 64.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,104 | 78.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,292 | 91.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,278 | 90.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,011 | 71.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,160 | 82.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,143 | 81.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,034 | 73.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,043 | 74.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 86 |
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 73 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 67 |
| March 2026 | 68 |
| February 2026 | 68 |
| January 2026 | 67 |
| December 2025 | 80 |
| November 2025 | 71 |
| October 2025 | 85 |
| September 2025 | 74 |
Compared with England and Wales, Harold Wood recorded notably more vehicle crime (51% above the national rate), and notably less criminal damage and arson (69% below) and violence and sexual offences (50% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 77 to 106, while burglary fell from 88 to 33 and criminal damage and arson fell from 60 to 29.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 243 | 17.2 | 34.2 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 192 | 13.6 | 15.4 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 106 | 7.5 | 5.0 | +38% |
| Shoplifting | 95 | 6.7 | 8.5 | -44% |
| Other theft | 59 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 0% |
| Public order | 56 | 4.0 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Burglary | 33 | 2.3 | 3.6 | -62% |
| Drugs | 30 | 2.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 29 | 2.1 | 6.7 | -52% |
| Theft from the person | 20 | 1.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 16 | 1.1 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 13 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Harold Wood; the highest is St Edward's (251.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Cranham (40.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Harold Wood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heaton | 2,159 | 107.2 | +67% |
| Gooshays | 1,385 | 80.1 | +25% |
| Squirrels Heath | 928 | 58.9 | -8% |
| Emerson Park | 475 | 49.5 | -23% |
| Marshalls & Rise Park | 1,231 | 84.4 | +32% |
| Cranham | 546 | 40.9 | -36% |
| St Alban's | 903 | 112.0 | +75% |
| St Edward's | 3,248 | 251.0 | +292% |
The 10 locations below account for 37% of the crime recorded in Harold Wood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (93).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 93 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 69 |
| On or near Gubbins Lane | 36 |
| On or near Juniper Way | 21 |
| On or near Bryant Avenue | 20 |
| On or near Harold Court Road | 20 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 20 |
| On or near Court Way | 19 |
| On or near Rutley Close | 19 |
| On or near Parking Area | 18 |
Of the 711 crimes in Harold Wood with a recorded outcome, 49% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 192 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 346 | 48.7% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 200 | 28.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 71 | 10.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 38 | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 22 | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 13 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 1.4% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 2 | 0.3% | 0.1% |
Harold Wood has an estimated population of 14,090 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (8.3%, against 17.1%), fewer students (5.5%, against 7.9%) and fewer households without a car (18%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Harold Wood average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Harold Wood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Harold Wood a safe place to live?
Harold Wood recorded 64.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,473rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Harold Wood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 243 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (192).
Is crime in Harold Wood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Harold Wood was down 18% on the year before: 903 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,104 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Harold Wood?
About 14,090 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Harold Wood?
Harold Wood is policed by Metropolitan Police.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.